Clemson QB Tajh Boyd (photo by Rex Brown/Clemson University)
QB Tajh Boyd (#10) and the No. 15 Clemson Tigers (10-3) of the ACC head to South Beach to take on the No. 23 West Virginia Mountaineers (9-3) of the Big East. Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. on ESPN!
Discover Orange Bowl
#23 West Virginia Mountaineers vs. #15 Clemson Tigers
When: Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 8:30 p.m.
Where: Miami
TV: ESPN
Series: Tigers lead 1-0
Last Meeting: 1989, Tigers won 27-7 in the Gator Bowl
Line: Clemson -3.5
Freshly Squeezed Offenses for the 78th Orange Bowl!
The Orange Bowl record for total points scored is 79. Accomplished in 2002 by Florida (56) and Maryland (23). And could very well be shattered this year as Orange Bowl freshman West Virginia and ACC champ Clemson go at it.
But even if the ‘Eers and Tigers don’t bust the scoring threshold, expect a shootout nonetheless.
Clemson, back in the Orange Bowl for the first time since 1982 when it won its only national championship in 1981, has won three straight overall in the Magic City and averages a robust 33 points and 440 total yards per game in 2011.
WVU meanwhile, as mentioned, is making its first ever Orange Bowl voyage – as the prestigious postseason destination’s worst ever ranked team. Regardless, the ‘Eers can move the ball with the best of ‘em, as first year Red Bull guzzling boss Dana Holgorsen, a protégé of the pass happy Hal Mumme coaching tree, has dialed up one of the nation’s most prolific offenses. The ‘Eers average 34 points and rank seventh nationally in passing yards (341 per game).
And though the ‘Eers feature the worst rushing offense amongst the BCS bowl teams – ranking 100th in the nation at 117 rushing yards per game – Holgorsen does in fact have a guy in his arsenal by the name of Geno Smith.
Smith, a local Miami product, leads a Mountaineer air raid attack that also sports speedy sidekicks in WR Tavon Austin and WR Stedman Bailey (who was Smith’s teammate at Miramar High School in Miami). Yes for sure, Smith and Bailey will be licking their chops at the prospect of putting on an aerial display for the homefolks.
And while WVU’s passing game is without question its bread and butter, Clemson on the other hand, cooks up a much more balanced offense.
RB Andre Ellington leads a terrific Tigers’ running game that averages 155 yards and of which opens things up for former Mountaineer verbal commit Tajh Boyd, an ever improving sophomore signal caller in his first season as starter.
Also making Boyd’s on the job training easier is true freshman Sammy Watkins, a freak of nature wideout from nearby Ft. Myers, Fla., that the ‘Eers’ D’ must contain for 60 minutes. If WVU hopes to win.
With all that said, the last team with the ball wins. And that team will be WVU – the beast of the East – which has won three straight in route to Little Cuba.
Yes, Clemson: Fear the ‘Eer!
PREDICTION: WEST VIRGINIA 38-35
MUST KNOW INFO
If Clemson beats WVU, the Tigers would be the first ACC team to beat five ranked teams within a season since 1999 (Florida State). WVU sports the worst scoring defense (26 points per game) amongst all BCS bowl teams.
WVU WR Tavon Austin (photo by Bill Amatucci Sr./WVU Sports Communications)
BOWL BUSTER
West Virginia junior WR Tavon Austin is the third Mountaineers player to be named Big East Special Teams Player of the Year (P Todd Sauerbrun in 1994 and CB Pacman Jones in 2004). Austin ranks second nationally in all-purpose yards (191 per game).
Clemson TE Dwayne Allen (photo by Rex Brown/Clemson University)
BOWL BUSTER
Clemson redshirt junior TE Dwayne Allen is the only ACC player named First Team All-American on offense by the Football Writers Association this year. Allen was also awarded the John Mackey Award for being the nation’s best tight end.
